Scouring pad with pouch for inserting an object for cleaning a variety of surfaces

ABSTRACT

In accordance with the present invention a scouring pad and/or scrubbing pad which can be constructed out of a variety of different materials and configurations contains an internal pouch or pocket that can be utilized by inserting a rigid object or scraper (which may or may not have a handle) into the pouch or pocket of the scouring or scrubbing pad. The rigid object can be removed from one scouring pad and reinserted into another scouring pad to meet the needs of multiple types of surfaces being cleaned.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

This invention relates to scouring or scrubbing pads, specifically those used for scrubbing debris from various surfaces including but not limited to pots, pans and stovetops.

Prior Art

Supermarkets, department stores and retail stores commonly supply consumers with scouring pads for scrubbing and cleaning their pots, pans, stovetops and other surfaces. Such scouring or scrubbing pads are sold individually or in multi packs.

These scouring or scrubbing pads are typically rectangular, square, oval or round in shape and there is no internal pouch or pocket for inserting a rigid object (with or without a handle) directly into the scouring or scrubbing pads.

Thereafter, inventors created several types of scouring and scrubbing pads for cleaning debris from various surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,431 to Carroll (1997) discloses a cleaning material designed for removing difficult stains and dirt from smooth and textured surfaces; however there is no pouch or pocket to insert a rigid object into the scouring or scrubbing pad or the ability to switch the rigid object from one type of scouring pad to another. One scrubbing pad made of material to clean a pot or pan may need to be different from a scouring or scrubbing pad that would be used on a glass top or ceramic stovetop as to not cause scratches.

Although this patent allows that material may be embodied to fit over the hand of a user as a cleaning mitt, the individual still must apply ample pressure using their hand. Having a pouch to insert a rigid object provides a scrubbing edge in the pad for the user to apply more force in a concentrated area so that the scrubber pad can clean more efficiently and quicker without as much pressure to the users hand.

Several types of scouring and scrubbing pads have been proposed with some type of internal pouch—for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,580 to Morris (1987) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,066,347 (1961), 3,167,805 (1965), 3,431,689 (1969), 4,190,550 (1980), 4,510,641 (1985), 3,581,447 (1971) and 20070269259 (2007). Although the scouring and scrubbing pads are utilized for cleaning a variety of surfaces, the pouches and pockets are intended for use with inserting or adding some type of soap or cleaning liquid. All of the scouring and scrubbing pads heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages:

(a) The scouring or scrubbing pad surfaces are uniform throughout the pads. There is no designated edge for the user to utilize for providing concentrated pressure to scrub away stubborn debris.

(b) When one uses a scouring pad or scrubbing pad for hard to remove debris, repetitive scrubbing is often needed. The more stubborn the debris the longer it can take to scrub it away. Especially on pots, pans and ceramic or glass stovetops because food and liquid can become baked into the glass and be very difficult to remove. Since, there is no designated opening for the user to insert a rigid object that would provide leverage for utilizing the edge of the scouring pad, the user will work longer to scrub the desired area they are trying to clean.

(c) If one uses a scouring pad or scrubbing pad they must manually apply pressure while scrubbing to remove stubborn debris for an extended period of time which can cause the users hand and/or arm to fatigue. Since there is no designated edge, pouch or pocket for inserting a rigid object, the user must utilize their hand to apply pressure to thoroughly clean the desired surface which will take much more effort especially if the area is heavily soiled.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Objects and Advantages

Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the scouring pad with pouch for inserting a rigid object for cleaning a variety of surfaces described in my above patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

(a) To provide a scouring pad or scrubbing pad with an edge built in for the user to utilize that area for providing concentrated pressure to scrub away stubborn debris.

(b) To provide a scouring pad or scrubbing pad with a designated opening to be used for inserting a rigid object (which may or may not have a handle) that would allow the user to clean a desired surface in less time.

(c) To provide a scouring pad or scrubbing pad with a designated opening to be used for inserting a rigid object which would press against the edge and allow the user to clean a desired surface with a focal point of pressure and greater efficiency.

(d) To provide a scouring pad or scrubbing pad with a designated opening which can be made with a variety of different materials so that a scouring or scrubbing pad will be available to properly clean a variety of different surfaces.

(e) To provide a scouring pad or scrubbing pad with a designated opening to be used for inserting a rigid object which would allow the user to hold onto that object to clean a desired surface with less force on the users hand during the cleaning process.

Further objects and advantages are to provide a scouring pad or scrubbing pad with a designated opening to be used for inserting a rigid object which can easily and conveniently be removed from one scouring or scrubbing pad's opening and inserted into another. For example, if the user is utilizing one scouring or scrubbing pad made out of material for cleaning a glass stovetop, the user can insert the rigid object into the pocket or pouch of that pad to clean the stovetop. When the user has finished cleaning the stovetop, they can easily remove the rigid object from that pad and insert it into the pouch or pocket of another pad made of material that would be used for cleaning a pot or pan and so on. There are many types of plastic and metal scrapers on the market that are used for scraping debris from a surface such as stovetop, pots and pans but there is no scouring pad on the market made for them to fit inside of. It is extremely convenient to use a scraper and scouring pad to clean a surface. You can use the scraper to scrape off debris and then put it inside of a fitted scouring pad to finish cleaning the surface. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

Summary

In accordance with the present invention a scouring pad and/or scrubbing pad which can be constructed out of a variety of different materials and configurations contains an internal pouch or pocket that can be utilized by inserting a rigid object or scraper (which may or may not have a handle) into the pouch or pocket of the scouring or scrubbing pad. The rigid object can be removed from one scouring pad and reinserted into another scouring pad to meet the needs of multiple types of surfaces being cleaned.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the scouring pad with an opening in the front of the pad.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the scouring pad.

FIG. 3 shows a left side view of the scouring pad.

FIG. 4 shows the pocket or pouch opening of the scouring pad.

FIG. 5 shows the right side of the scouring pad.

FIG. 6 shows the scrubbing edge base of the scouring pad.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

7 top opening 8 bottom edge 9 side 10 front 11 back

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1 TO FIGS. 6

The scouring pad can be constructed from a variety of materials and shaped into a variety of configurations to ensure the proper scrubbing pad material is used for the surface it will be used to clean as to not cause damage to the surface.

The top opening 7 is the area where a rigid object or scraper can be inserted and would reach down inside to the bottom edge 8. When using the scouring pad to clean, the user can either hold it by the rigid object that they may insert into the top opening 7 or by the front 10 and back 11 of the pad.

On one end of the scouring pad there is a top opening 7 which allows the user to insert a rigid object which may or may not have a handle for the user to hold. The rigid object would be encased by the scouring pad. On the other end of the scouring pad is the bottom edge 8 which provides a covering for the edge of the rigid object that is inserted inside.

The manner of using the scouring pad is to insert a rigid object or scraper inside the top opening 7. The rigid object will fit inside the scouring pad. The user will either hold the rigid object that is inserted into the scouring pad, hold the pad by the front 10 and back 11 with their hand or hold both to use for scrubbing and cleaning a surface.

The user will then use a scrubbing motion with their hand and the bottom edge 8 with the rigid object inside will provide a means by which to focus force onto the surface being cleaned.

To remove the rigid object or scraper that is inserted into the scouring pad, the user holds the front 10 and back 11 of the pad with their hand and with their other hand simply pull the rigid object out of the top opening 7.

The user can then pick up another scouring pad made of any type material to clean another type of surface, insert the same rigid object or scraper into the top opening 7 and use as stated above to clean that surface.

Cleaning agents or liquid soap can be applied to the outside of the scouring pad to the front 10, back 11 and/or bottom edge 8 prior to cleaning a surface.

The scouring pad/s can either be rinsed, washed by hand or cleaned in the dishwasher when they become soiled until it wears out and needs to be replaced.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

Accordingly, the reader will see that the scouring pad with pouch can be used for cleaning a variety of surfaces easily and conveniently, has a pocket or pouch for the user to insert a rigid object or scraper and provides a way for the user to scrub and clean in less time and more efficiently due to the concentrated force that can be applied to the bottom edge of the scouring pad. In addition, the user will be able to clean a surface using less force being applied to their hand because the scouring pad will provide a protective yet stronger cleaning edge with the rigid object or scraper inside. Furthermore, the scouring pad with pouch has additional advantages in that:

-   -   it allows for the scouring pad to be constructed of usual         material that is known to be used to clean certain surfaces. For         example, material used for scrubbing a pot or pan, material used         for cleaning a glass stovetop, material used for cleaning         stainless steel appliances etc.     -   it allows for the scouring pad to be offered in different colors         that can correspond with a particular cleaning surface.     -   it provides an opening for a rigid object or scraper to be         inserted inside that provides a scouring pad that will be more         helpful for the user by saving them time and pressure on their         hand and arm.     -   it provides a surface where one can label or print what surface         each of the different scouring pads are made to clean.

Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, the scouring pad can have other shapes such as circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal etc.; the items that can be inserted into the pouch or pocket can vary and be used for a number of other uses.

Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

I claim:
 1. Scrubber apparatus with pocket. Rigid plastic or metal object which may or may not contain a handle can be inserted into pocket: (a) providing an apparatus that is made up of a material that may or may not be abrasive and forms a pocket that is useful for inserting a rigid piece of plastic or metal for scrubbing various surfaces. (b) Said pocket could be comprised of a scrubbing or scouring abrasive material for surfaces that require abrasive material to clean. (c) Said pocket could be comprised of a non-abrasive material such as microfiber for cleaning surfaces that scratch easily.
 2. An apparatus useful for scrubbing various surfaces of claim 1 comprising material that may or may not be abrasive and having a pocket for inserting a rigid plastic or metal object into the pocket.
 3. The apparatus useful for scrubbing various surfaces of claim 1 wherein said material can be composed of a variety of different types of materials and different colors that could be a scrubbing abrasive material or scouring pad.
 4. The apparatus useful for scrubbing various surfaces of claim 1 wherein said material can be composed of a variety of different types of materials and different colors that could be a non-abrasive material or microfiber material for surfaces that scratch easily.
 5. The apparatus useful for scrubbing various surfaces of claim 1 is made of an abrasive material or non-abrasive material and forms a pocket that can be used with a plastic or metal object that may or may not have a handle which can be inserted into the pocket that provides a covering for the metal or plastic object for scrubbing surfaces that require either an abrasive or non-abrasive material. 